Alex's experience includes advising:

• Yokohama Rubber on obtaining unconditional phase I merger approvals from the European Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for its €2.1bn acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems, a manufacturer of off-highway tyres for agricultural and industrial machinery.
• Parker-Hannifin on the global merger control and foreign investment clearances for its £6.3bn public offer for Meggitt, a manufacturer of aerospace and defence motion and control technologies, including obtaining EU and UK phase I merger clearances subject to competition remedies, with further national security remedies and economic undertakings given to the UK Government.
• Cargotec on its proposed merger with Konecranes in the cargo handling industry to create a combined group with sales of €7bn, involving the first parallel phase 2 review of a transaction by the CMA and the European Commission.
• A third party on its interventions in the parallel phase 2 reviews by the CMA and the European Commission in relation to the proposed $40bn acquisition by NVIDIA of Arm, which was subsequently abandoned by the parties.
• Auction Technology Group on the global merger control aspects of its $525m acquisition of LiveAuctioneers, a North American online Arts & Antiques marketplace, including obtaining unconditional phase 1 clearance from the CMA.

• Flutter Entertainment on its £10bn merger with The Stars Group to create a leading online gaming group, obtaining unconditional phase 1 clearance from the CMA and coordinating the global merger control and foreign investment filings effort.

• PepsiCo on its $1.7bn public bid for Pioneer Food Group, one of the largest South African producers of branded food and beverage products, including obtaining unconditional phase 1 UK clearance from the CMA and coordinating other ex-Africa merger filings.

• The Connect Bidco consortium (Apax, Warburg Pincus, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board) on obtaining UK Government approval, subject to national security undertakings, for its £2.6bn public bid for Inmarsat, a global satellite telecommunications provider.

• BAE Systems on the creation of a land systems joint venture with Rheinmetall through the sale of a majority interest in its UK-based armoured combat vehicles business, including obtaining unconditional phase 1 clearance from the CMA.
• Mars on obtaining phase I approval subject to remedies from the European Commission in relation to the acquisition of AniCura, a European group of animal hospitals and clinics, and the subsequent sale of AniCura’s VetFamily procurement platform to Fidelio Capital; and on its acquisition of Linnaeus, a UK veterinary services group.

• JAB on the global merger control aspects, including obtaining phase I EU merger clearance, of its acquisition of leading ready-to-eat food chain Pret A Manger, and the subsequent acquisition of UK food and drink retailer EAT. 

• Smiths Group on its $710m acquisition of Morpho Detection, a detection and security solutions company, cleared subject to remedies after a phase I review by the European Commission; and subsequent $75.5m sale of Morpho Detection’s explosive trace detection business to OSI Systems.

• Sysco on obtaining unconditional phase I clearance from the European Commission for its $3.1bn purchase of Brakes Group, a leading European foodservice distributor.

• JAB and Coty on their $12.5bn acquisition of Procter & Gamble’s fine fragrance, colour cosmetics and hair colour businesses, cleared unconditionally at phase I by the European Commission.

• A large investment bank on investigations around the world into allegations of manipulation of the foreign exchange markets. 

• JAB and D.E. Master Blenders 1753 (DEMB) on the combination of DEMB with the coffee business of Mondelēz International to form Jacobs Douwe Egberts, a pure-play coffee company with annual revenues of more than €5bn, cleared subject to conditions by the European Commission after a phase II review.

Education

• University of Bristol, UK (LLB hons)

Professional qualifications

• Solicitor, England and Wales
• Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors, Ireland

Professional memberships

• Law Society, England and Wales
• Law Society, Ireland
• Competition law committee of the City of London Law Society
• American Bar Association